Steering column



Oct. s, 1946. I C. c. OLIVER 2,409,062

STEERING COLUMN Filed March 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Oct. 8, 1946. c, c, OLI ER 2,409,062

STEERING COLUMN Filed March 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Car/es 6. 012M923- Patented Oct. 8, 1946 STEERING COLUMN Charles C. Oliver, New Orleans La assignor of one-half to Avin C." Johnson, New Orleans, La..

Application March 10,1945; Serial No. 582,086.

Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in steering columns particularly for motor vehicles and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character comprising a novel construction and arrangement whereby the wheel and the shaft may, when desired, be expeditiously removed from the housing and replaced.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a steering column of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a, study of the following specifications, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a steering column constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view principally in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line :l4 of Figure 2.

Figures 5 and 6 are plan views, respectively, of the opposed ends of the upper and intermediate shaft sections.

Figures 7 and 8 are plan views, respectively, of the opposed ends of the intermediate and lower shaft sections.

Figure 9 is a detail view in elevation of the shaft retaining cap member.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the housing.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a stationary tubular housing I of any suitable metal. The housing I may be secured in position in the vehicle in any desired manner.

Fixed on the upper end portion of the housing and rising therefrom is a sleeve 2.

The sleeve is provided with an internal circumferential groove or channel 3. A stop 4 is provided in the groove 3, the purpose of which will be presently set forth. The sleeve 2 is further provided with vertical grooves 5 which extend from the upper end of said sleeve to the circumferential groove 3. Pivotally mounted on the sleeve 2 is a spring pressed thumb or finger retracted latch 6 which is operable in an opening I provided therefor in said sleeve for engagement in the groove 3 at a point adjacent to but spaced from the stop 4 (seeFigure 3). The purpose of the latch 6 will also be presently set forth.

Rotatably mounted in the housing I is a removable shaft which is designated generally by reference character 8. The shaft 8 comprises upper, intermediate and lower sections 9, Ill-and ll, re spectively. Mounted on the upper end. of the shaft section 9 is a steering wheel I2.

The-shaft sections 9 and I0 areoperatively connected for rotation in unison by complemental clutch members is and I4 on their opposed ends. The lower end of the intermediate section [0 is provided with clutch members l5 which are-engageable with complemental clutch members l6 on the upper end of the section II. Thus, the shaft sections 9, l0 and H are connected for retation in unison butv in a manner to permit them to be. readily separated. The intermediate section I0 is further provided, in its upper end, with a threaded socket llfor the reception of an eye bolt (not shown) to facilitate removal of said section from the housing I; if necessary.

Abutting the lower. end of the housing I is a fiat ringof suitable metal constituting a thrust bearing 18. Formed integrally with the thrust bearing 58 and projecting upwardly therefrom into the lower end portion of the housing I is a bushing. constituting a radial bearing IQ for the shaft 8. Arms 20 rise from the thrust bearing I 8 and are detachably secured at 2! to apertured ears. or lugs 22 on the housing I.

The section II of the shaft 8 compriseson its lower end a reduction 23 terminating ina taper 24 for receiving a gear or knuckle. -A retaining nut 25 is threaded on the lower end portion of the taper '24. The reduction 23 of the shaft section H is rotatable in the member l8. This reduction 23 provides a shoulder 26 on the lower end of the shaft 8 which rests on the thrust bear-'- in it. Thus, the shaft 8v is firmly supported in the housing I.

A retaining cap member 21 is provided at the upper end of the housing I for the shaft 8. The retaining nut 21 includes a flat, circular top 28 having a circular, central opening 29 therein which accommodates the shaft section 9. The retaining nut 2! further includes lugs 30 which are insertable in the groove 3 through the grooves 5 for anchoring said nut in the sleeve 2. The upper shaft section 9 is formed to provide a shoulder 3| with which the top 28 of the cap member 21 is engageable for anchoring said section 9 in the housing l.

It will thus be seen that a steering column has been provided wherein the wheel and shaft may be expeditiously removed or replaced. To remove the shaft 8, the arms 20 are detached from the ears or lugs 22 thereby permitting the radial bearing or bushing l9 to be slipped out of the lower end portion of the housing I'. In this manner the shaft section Il may be readily withdrawn from the lower end of the housing I. The intermediate section I0 may also be removed in this manner, if desired. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of th drawings, the latch 6 is engageable behind the lug 30 which is engaged with the stop 4 for preventing retrograde rotation of the retaining cap member 21. To remove the wheel l2 and the shaft section 9, the latch 5 is disengaged or withdrawn from the groove 3 for permitting the nut 21 to be turned to align the lug 30 thereon with the grooves 5. The cap member 21 may then be lifted out of the sleeve 2 for permitting disconnection of the shaft section 9. The intermediate shaft section ID may then be removed from the housing I at the upper end thereof by screwing a suitable eye bolt into the socket l1. Of course, to reassemble the steering column the foregoing operation is substantially reversed.

It is believed that the many advantages of a steering column constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in. the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A steering column of the character described comprising a tubular housing, a removable shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, said shaft ineluding a shoulder on one end portion a sleeve 1 fixed on the corresponding end portion of the housing and projecting therefrom, said sleeve having an internal circumferential groove and further having a longitudinal groove therein communicating with the first-named groove, a stop projecting into the first-named groove, a cap member mounted on the shaft and engaged with the shoulder, a lug on said cap member engageable in the first-named groove for anchoring said cap member in the sleeve, said lug being engageable with the stop, and a latch on the sleeve engageable with the lug for releasably securing the nut against retrograde rotation in said sleeve.

2. A steering column of the character described including a tubular housing, a removable sectional shaft rotatably mounted therein, interlocking clutch shoulders on the adjacent ends of said shaft sections, an annular shoulder formed on the upper shaft section, a cap member formed with opposed outwardly and inwardly extending flanges seating on the upper end of said housing with the inwardly extending flange engaging 4 the shoulder on said upper shaft section, a sleeve secured to said housing overlying the adjacent ends of the same and said cap member and having its upper end engaged by the outwardly extending flange on said cap member, and means for locking said parts in assembled relation.

3. A steering column of the character described including a tubular housing, a removable sectional shaft rotatably mounted therein, interlocking clutch shoulders on the adjacent ends of said shaft sections, an annular shoulder formed on the upper shaft section, a cap member formed with opposed outwardly and inwardly extending flanges seating on the upper ends of said housing with the inwardly extending flange engaging the shoulder on said upper shaft section, a sleeve secured to said housing overlying the adjacent ends of the same and said cap member and having its upper end engaged by the outwardly extending flange on said cap member, and oppositely disposed locking lugs on said cap member for locking said parts in assembled relation.

4. A steering column of the character described including a tubular housing, a removable sectional shaft rotatably mounted therein, interlocking clutch shoulders on the adjacent ends of said shaft sections, an annular shoulder formed on the upper shaft section, a cap member formed with opposed outwardly and inwardly extending flanges seating on the upper ends of said housing with the inwardly extending flange engaging the shoulder on said upper shaft section, a sleeve secured to said housing overlying the adjacent ends of the same and said cap member and having its upper end engaged by the outwardly extending flange on said cap member, said sleeve being formed with an annular groove, and oppositely disposed locking lugs on said cap member engageable in said annular groove for locking said parts in assembled relation.

5. A steering column of the character described including a tubular housing, a removable sectional shaft rotatably mounted therein, interlocking clutch shoulders on the adjacent ends of said shaft sections, an annular shoulder formed on the upper shaft section, a cap member formed with opposed outwardly and inwardly extending flanges seating on the upper end of said housing with the inwardly extending flange engaging the shoulder on said upper shaft section, a sleeve secured to said housing overlying the adjacent ends of the same and said cap member and having its upper end engaged by the outwardly extending flange on said cap member, said sleeve being formed with an annular groove, and oppositely disposed locking lugs on said cap member engageable in said annular groove in said sleeve, and a spring projected look-- ing dog on said sleeve engageable with said looking lugs for releasably securing the cap member against retrograde rotation in said sleeve.

CHARLES C. OLIVER. 

